Love and Emmanuel

WOW!! Week Four of Advent wasn't even a week!! So here we go!!

Happy Week of Love:

And now....

WELCOME BABY JESUS!!!! EMMANUEL!!!

Merry Christmas!!

First Responders

Please pray for our first responders, including the religious leaders of this little town...

We are praying today for the two priests at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown, CT.

Msgr. Robert Weiss and Fr. Luke Suarez have been used by God in an incredible way and we don't want to forget to pray for them. 

Would you join me in offering up prayers for them? Thanks. Photo Credit ??

I can't imagine what the EMTs and police saw, or all the grief the above priests, Msgr. Weiss and Fr. Suarez, and all the community religious leaders have been CARRYING while dealing with their own emotions.

I'm reminded to keep praying for ALL first responders, and all victims of violence around the world - not just the newsworthy ones. Keep the hope in this broken world.

The following was in my Little Blue Book for Advent on Saturday for Advent Meditations on the Gospel, and was so appropriate for today:

In the face of all I see wrong with the world, I have 2 options. One option is to see all these problems as fatal. The world is doomed to be forever unjust and tragic, so I should simply do my best to get the most I can for myself out of the situation. The other option is to see all creation as the recipient of the overwhelming power God's compassion and transforming love. When I look at the the world this way, I believe that every struggle for peace and justice, however small, ultimately have an effect, and whatever energy I spend to relieve suffering is worth the effort. Christian faith calls me to choose the second option - to live my life in this world with hope...not wishful thinking.


Choose Hope today. Pray for those who carry the burden of quietly providing hope to those who feel hopeless. God bless our first responders.

How will you respond today?

Gaudete Joy!

A rainy, rainy, dark, cold, southern Sunday - both outside in the weather, and to the spirit after the last few days. It makes it harder to fully embrace the 3rd Sunday of Lent - "Joy" (Gaudete) Sunday. It first seems to be great irony at the timing - how can we be happy as a nation and large 'village'? Instead, it is God's comfort over the tragic side of free will/struggle of mental illness. Joy is 

something entirely different from happiness. The words of a dying woman who discerned joy as she faced death came to mind today during Mass, and I wish this for myself today, and all I know.

"I had thought joy to be rather synonymous with happiness, but it seems now to be far less vulnerable than happiness. Joy seems to be a part of an unconditional will to live, not holding back because life may not meet our preferences and expectations. Joy seems to be a function of the willingness to accept the whole, and to show up to meet with whatever is there. It has a kind of invincibility that attachment to any particular outcome would deny us. Rather than the warrior who fights toward a specific outcome and therefore is haunted by the specter of failure and disappointment, it is the lover drunk with the opportunity to love despite the possibility of love, the player for whom playing has become more important than winning or losing...Joy seems more closely related to aliveness than to happiness." ~ Rachel Naomi Remen

Do not let this life steal your joy. Stay ALIVE. Grab the joy. Light that candle. 

Blessed Joy Sunday to you all....much love. 

Gaudete. 

FEAST!!!

I adore feast days, especially when they involve a mother figure of mine - Mama Mary. Since becoming a mother, and needing certain things in an earthly mother, I have found myself turning to Mary more and more as I age for intercession and friendship.

Mary confuses many non-Catholics. I can't blame them, when I feel I never can adequately explain to them deeper than we don't worship her, and put her ahead or equal to God. I mean, how do you define air when you simply know it as the means to your existence? How do you define love in words? Actions speak louder than words, and Mary has always demonstrated great faith and grace that witnesses to me. I tell people that you go to your mother for help with something and a listening ear. Maybe she uses her influence to help you, or perhaps she offers comfort. That is Mary. I understand not wanting to worship anyone but our 3-in-1 God, but I do wish my Christian sisters and brothers took a deeper look at this incredible woman as this comforting ear and intercessor (even if all they can do is study her biblically, not just in tradition) When we say "Our Lady" we mean their Lady too. She loves all her children. Use faith filled eyes when looking, and you will see what I see, I KNOW it. You will be uplifted for it.

Nothing could be more perfect than what she says to a troubled Juan Diego - a very poor man who had lost his dear wife. His life was much worse than my life is now. He traveled no less that 15 miles a day on foot to get to where he needed to be, including worship. He lived in a time of little medicine, little money, little food. He was alone, yet she said the following to him (what impacts me personally is in bold):

Here I will show and offer all my love, my compassion and protection to the people. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrows .. their necessities and misfortunes. Listen and let it penetrate your heart.

Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and my protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the fold of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?"

So, you can see why I feel like she's talking to me. Our Lady is called many names, and has appeared in many forms, and it's hard to pick a "favorite" - but this one is a sentimental favorite. How I long for these words spoken to me in a certain earthly relationship. They are such comfort, and remind me my home is not on earth, but in heaven. I'm not alone, I am pleasing, I am loved, I am protected, I am HUGGED and ENFOLDED. I need to choose not to fear. 

It's words from the Gospel. She simply points the way to her Son, but reminds me I'm not alone and to not struggle. What an incredible mother Jesus had, and she's my mother, my Queen of Heaven.

Our Mother. Our Queen. 

Tonight we celebrated her feast day with a Mexican style dinner. It was healthy, delicious and SIMPLE. It was just what this no-fuss season of Advent calls for and I don't do enough. 

It was nice to come together as a family in the hustle and bustle of a season that should be quiet and one of preparation. So, a feast day helps freeze time a bit! We ended the day listening to this CD, with the focus on the 2nd story - perfect for the day. 

Want to know more about Mary - check out this great article on her and her place biblically. 

I hope all of you had a wonderful day! Enjoy taking time this Advent to reflect and prepare...even as we all try to get everything done on our lists. Try not to show vexation ;) 

Blessings!!

Peace on Earth????????

I had a really beautiful prayer time with the kids. We lit their playdoh advent wreath, did our children's Advent meditations (Welcome Baby Jesus) by Sarah Reinhard at Snoring Scholar (we are SO loving this resource by the way. The "Thnk/Pray/Act" meditations and prompts are gorgeous and a treasure!! So easy to do!), and ended with a discussion on being generous to others and what that means in many ways. We hurried into to blowing out the candles after this insight from Valiant on repentance, being generous, and forgiving others.:

Valiant: If you were not generous, you were being mean, and mean people go to the tracks and get squished by trains. 


*crickets*. 

All riiiiighty then. 

Amen???

**Valiant's views are not shared in Welcome Baby Jesus, our creed, or by our family!!! LOL!!

Comfort and Joy

                               

                                                                  Sometimes...it's the little things that bring added comfort and joy.

The treasured doesn't seem so far away after all...

                     ...and they shine just a bit brighter...

                                                                                                                   ...and glows from the inside out.


                                                            Comfort and Joy. I'll take it!

Blessed Advent to you!! Week 2!

May you have a blessed, second week of Advent. And, to my dear friends who celebrate Hanukkah - Happy Festival of Lights!

Much love!

Ooops!!

It's not a totally PJ day like I thought, ooops....it's a MAJOR feast day too!!  And, haha, this is totally me on more occasions than I can count:

So, while I was looking forward to a day in my PJs, I think getting a chance to give some praise to the God who gives me my PJ days and gratitude for our Mama Mary would probably be in order!

Blessed Feast Day to you!!!

Blessed Advent!

It's Advent!!! May this be a blessed time of preparation for us all!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

For to us a child is born...Isaiah 9:6

* Drawing by Lovely, December 2011

Another Sneak Peak

Oh my!! I can't stop sneaking pictures! I am loving this!!

Sneak Peak

Lovely is giving me quite a look in this picture, as she told me that "It is NOT done yet, Mommy!"

Here is a sneak peak of our Christmas card cover Lovely is currently drawing, and eventually coloring, for us. She really amazes me!!

She has already added more animals and details since I took the picture. I can't wait to see it when she is done!!! I love my girl!

Beauty is...

...Advent.

This is our Advent Wreath this year. It is new to our family, as my childhood base is "lost" in storage. I will admit I love it.

My husband saved the day finding this wreath as a replacement. The children and I needed this wreath more than ever after the past two months. (My husband and I too, very much). I love that it is a simple, white wreath with holly carved on it, with the words Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace - the weeks of Advent!

Advent is the season of Preparation. I can't imagine one can prepare for anyone special coming without hope, love, joy, and peace. There is one act of preparation that I know can bring a person all four of those themes of Advent. That is Penance.

Beauty is...

...children humbling themselves before their Father, and each other, in mass penance.

Tonight's Advent Penance service at our church - 20 priests to hear confessions

...is a dulcimer playing as you pray and reflect silently - hearing the breezy whispers of penitence and GRACE.

...is being able to pray in the quiet corner of my simple room at home near my lit advent wreath, or in this soaring space.

Look closely at this VERY special statue of Mary

...pondering the amazing gift Mary carried in her womb. How a simple "yes" defined what IS truly beautiful. Her Hope. Her Love. Her Joy. Her Peace.

...is forgiveness.

...being saved.

...me - as God's beloved child.

...Hubby - as God's beloved child.


...Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.

Beauty is eternal - like a never ending, circular wreath....

O come, O Come...

With Joyful (Gaudete) Sunday leading us into this week of Advent, I felt real peace focusing on family time tonight. This included fixing a simple Mexican meal to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Dec 9th Feast of St. Juan Diego. The girls really loved watching a video online about both feasts, the country and culture of Mexico, and listening to one of our Glory Story cds. We also did our Advent Adventures and made our Jesse tree ornament. We did most of this in either low lighting, Advent candlelight and tree lights, or the light from our our new...

...fireplace, compliments of Netflix streaming - haha! From this position it almost seems real! It's new to our queue. It really burns about an hour, the fire devourers the wood, and crackles and pops. Another "episode" plays Christmas carols as it burns away. It is really peaceful!

It makes for a good evening to cuddle on the couch and think about my blessings rather than my stress, and capture some needed Advent moments and meditations. It is also good for our assigned "couch time".

O come, O Come...______ (fill in the blank)

Good Night!!

Blessed (and JOYFUL!) Gaudete Sunday!!

Just a quick post, as it is late - and I'm only up because we were trimming the tree we got today. I think Gaudete Sunday is a great day to get one's Christmas tree!

JOY to you reading!!! :)

Gaudete? Really?

Tonight I find myself on the eve of Gaudete Sunday. It is means Joyful Sunday.

Joy.

Really?

When I woke up this morning, I was feeling much different from yesterday - when I was filled with joy, hope, and excitement. Fridays are our new marriage therapy days (in fact, pray for us every Friday at 3pm EST please - we would grateful appreciate the prayers and strength). It was a good starting appointment (our first real one). And she mostly talked about how to renew ourselves as a couple - how to start communicating again. In the meeting - it all sounded good. We talked about starting quarterly pow wows to review how we were doing in our:

~ new goals for our marriage
~ new goals for our finances
~ updating wills
~ other estate docs
~ use this time to make sure we were carving out weekly dates each quarter.

To stay on track between these meetings, we should have 15 mins a day of kid free "couch time." Where we snuggle (without leading to anything else) and hold each other, touching hands/arms, etc. Comfort postures basically  - and while doing so talk about our day, us, goals, how we feel, what we are mad about etc and PRAY. We should also make sure weekly dates are planned. She really wants us to be kid free someplace once a week and preferably out of the house - it doesn't have to be an expensive thing...just an escape - hike, dinner, or dinner. Coffee shops work too. With all the separation and walls built up on Hubby's side in the panic he faced, and the ones I have now, coupled with the cooling that can come with a 10+ year marriage and 3 young children, she said we really need this to rebuild. She wants Hubby to start courting me again and making me feel like a wife and partner again or cherished worth.

I won't lie. I loved this idea. I already felt perked up! I keep saying how lonely I feel in all this. To know we were being assigned to date like we did when we first started dating was exciting and cheerful and hopeful  - especially with knowing we were getting started in therapy. It felt like reward in a way, and the start of a new journey toward "us." We left our session light in our steps, stopping for ice cream (on a cold day!) at a cute little parlor and we just smiled and talked, and felt "normal".

Then, this morning I woke up from a night of thinking too hard, dreaming, etc. I woke up angry that I get caught up in these happy emotions when so much still has not been done since we had to move. We still need to have another finance meeting now that just this week we got regular pay again. I’ve been asking him for the last 2 weeks to show me the credit card bills to see what was charged there – still nothing. I’ve been asking him to sit down with me to make a new budget – he made one without me I have not seen yet! My fault is that I’ll yell at him about it, and say I want to see everything tomorrow – then have a good day with the kids or something, and not ask him again – so he gets away with it. I'm not consistent. I don't want to nag and ruin my good day that is being my band aid. With all this pondering, this morning I woke up thinking I don't want to date him until the list is crossed off! I want to know whom I am dating and rely on him! I don't want to be in denial, or procrastinate!

Then...I know I’m messing up here too. I obviously love homeschooling and being home with our kids so much and make that “my job” that I too get comfortable not taking on more roles in planning our estate, etc. We make enough for me to be home for home for now – but we still need to plan for the future since we lost so much of that in our loss! I want us to be partners on that - not just me doing it, but it looks like it will be me if he unable because it needs to get done. But, I don’t want him dating me either if it means I’m just as messed up and need to be told where I’m too idealistic, or trusting or create bad habits in us as a couple. I'm also angry, prideful, and emotional.

Again, I wish these issues had come up yesterday – but they bubbled over in me overnight. I am just so angry, yet in love, and really believe in our faith and in forgiveness, but then get so angry again because I feel like I'm the only one feeling all this. When I share all the above with him he says he agrees, yet...no action. I end up staying up at night trying to answer my own questions. Men and women are so different! I do have faith that time will show improvement in us BOTH though!

Another issue popped into my head today too. My family. Oh, how this affected my family. Nothing kills me more than seeing a good man (my husband) lose the respect my siblings and parents had in him. It will make rebuilding doubly hard, because I think they can see my Hubby is a QUIET guy, and you can't tell if a fire is "lit under" him or not - so they are in constant worry for me and the kids thinking what they think. For the most part, I am very good now about telling them "we are handling it, thank you! Keep praying!" - but now, this "dating angle" we are doing?  What do I tell our family members that see us dating again, etc, when they are angry at him and blame him (I’ve told them to blame me too. Two way street – but they see how he just lied and betrayed) and they think I’m being too naïve or forgiving.

I have been told numerous time that for the sake of us improving and taking care of our kids I need to be “lighting fires under him” to do what he needs to do in this aftermath. He has no respect in our family now, and they are hurt by all this too. What do I need to do to deal with them, and our family? It hurts they can tell he is a guy with little drive too (for years they have said this, I saw him more kindly). They obviously knew he would have a hard time doing what he needs to do after this, and I believed in him the whole time. Still, I know his is good, a I just want him to be respected!! I worry the pressure of my family in "succeeding" also affected his decision making. He is a good guy that made a big mistake - but one to our immediate family. Let us deal with it. I try to be in their shoes - if this were Lovely, or Valiant, or Gift who had this done to them, or did it to their family, I know I would be so hurt for them, and have questions and assumptions but how far do I go with that for them? How does one deal with it all?

Well, I decided to do something with all the above feelings. I left Dr. S both a voicemail and sent an email - saying on both to NOT rush (it is a weekend!) but that I just had to air these feelings I had, and see if that changes her process - or if she is aware of what this will dig up and would be discussing it next session. Both calling and e-mailing made me feel SO much better. I copied Hubby to the email, and we talked about things off and on all day around the kids and shopping, etc. I also prayed about it, and took a nap, which helped.  I'm running on very little sleep these days with the little kids having sleeping issues. I'm sure everything is affecting me.

And so...my joy came back. We got lots of errands done today, and then spent the evening hosting 3 additional children over for a slumber party so their parents could go to an office party. Our 2 families attend the same church, so we will just dress them for Mass and save their parents the time. And, surprising as it sounds - knowing they are kid free and on a date and I'm at home (with Hubby being such a great teammate) with an 8 year old, 4.5 year old, two 3 year olds, an 18 month old and 15 month old all night - I am feeling so joyful! Children bring the magic of the season with them in their excitement of baking cookies....

Ha! you can tell I worked hard with the kids on the dough...har har har!

...dressing up, eating in the candlelight of the Advent wreath, reading about the Jesse tree, and...

...watching TV specials like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer together on an air mattress for their slumber party together (babies not included, bedtime for them came before the show lol!)...

...with Baby Brother # 1...

...and Baby Brother #2 (bottom right corner)...

...and happy kids snuggled in between for the movie and slumber party!

As I read this week in my Advent meditation book reflecting on John in the desert (on Mk 1:3), "The Christian life is like a desert...sometimes beautiful....sometimes severe...a mixture of sweetness and pain...a place gentle, quiet and peaceful...and sometimes difficult. It can be a life of great, great testing." Hm...sounds like my marriage! My desert today tasted of both - but there was far more promise and joy in it than wasteland.

Bring on Gaudete Sunday!


Really.

Our First Liturgical/ Seasonal Tea!!!!!

Madeline and Kate's hard work in their gorgeous home!!!

 
Yesterday we were able to celebrate Advent and the Feast of St. Nicholas with a very special Advent Tea, hosted by Madeline Wicker and Kate Wicker - dear friends of Lovely and I (and same with our other children - I can see our sons one day tackling each other becoming little men). It was a truly memorable and beautiful day.

Isn't Kate the CUTEST??!! Look out Hallie!

Not only did Madeline and her mother feed our bodies with the most delicious, fun, and meaningful foods - they most importantly fed our spirits. I wonder if either of them (and their WONDERFUL friends who joined us all) knew how much they fed this one mother's weary soul? I know Lovely and Valiant's hearts were fuller than their stomachs ever felt. I know they were touched too - by a house full of the sweetest girls and mothers, and the rich traditions of our faith!

Hostess Maddie with Lovely

It was a day that brought out the 'girly girl' in all of us - the one who longs to dress in pretty things, touch pretty things, eat dainty things, and feel grownup without all the stress that comes with growing up. Even the most tomboy of girls feels the way the Spirit makes her - and it is just a beautiful thing to cherish in the moment. I totally enjoyed walking into their home and feeling whisked away. I think this is what tea times are about - savoring the time God has given us, and restoring ourselves with enough Spirit to carry on until the next tea time. Why do I not do this enough with my children? That will change!

Concert time! How I WISH I had taken Maddie's picture - she played!

When we arrived, the group of girls pictured above (both pictures) started with an Advent story. Then, Maddie played her first sheet music (read!) piece - Jingle Bells (how did I not get a picture?! Sorry sweetie!). We then blessed our abundant table with prayer and served our plates with the bounty of love the Wickers made for us all and I could not believe how our sweet girls enjoyed the beauty around them (and inside them!) in the sweet moments that followed. Such gentleness! Such manners!

I was so proud of Lovely - this was a big deal for her!

Little Gift crashed the girly tea :)

Valiant and her friend C. with Little Gift at their table :)

Even the smallest girls had their own table (and high chair!). Gift was the only boy on two legs at the party and he had to learn how to be a gentleman. He could not quite figure out why he did not have C's seat. He kept trying to oust her - Sorry sweet C! Every time I went to take pictures, he was trying to foreclose move in on her space (har har!).

Kate and Maddie asking their guests to share Advent traditions

Kate and Maddie were fabulous hosts. They led a discussion about Advent, and the girls' favorite family and liturgical traditions for Advent. It was so neat to hear how all these families made this time of preparation special. Lovely mentioned how we do the Jesse Tree (thanks to Holy Heroes Advent Adventures), fill the manger with yarn to sacrifice to do good deeds for Jesus, and light the Advent Wreath and sing around it. I have to admit, I think this Advent Tea may have to become a tradition too...

After our FABULOUS tea - the girls retired to the library to make crafts - ornaments of the Baby Jesus in the manger.  What a cute idea!

The finished ornaments.

Afterwards, the girls enjoyed time with each other, and MY girls enjoyed loving on Baby Thomas Wicker - so much so, that I had numerous requests on our ride home for a fourth baby who MUST be a boy...and HIS name will be Thomas (according to Valiant). Just look at how much they LOVED this precious boy:

Thomas is SMILING at Valiant!!! Oh, she LOVED Thomas!

Lovely too! She wanted to hold him so much...

He's smiling for ME here...

After the tea was over (which, before everyone left, I had the pleasure of meeting the mothers of these incredible girls we spent the morning with, and they were so nice - my soul kept feeling lighter and lighter - one sweet mother had stayed the whole party like me, "W" was her name, and she was such a sweetheart). I was so happy for Kate to have these lovely women to inspire her. It made our community's loss at her move a little sweeter to take - hehe. I was told once that 'a place should bless you, and you bless the place' and the Wicker's have blessed, and I know are being blessed too!

When everyone left, I had the pleasure of being invited to stay a little longer (oh how that can be redefined by children - especially 7 young children of similar ages and no older helpers between Kate and I - which just made me love the chaos God has blessed us both with and LONG for a nap at the same time). But, it was so wonderful sharing time and souls for a little bit before returning back to my reality.

I love this picture of us, taken by Maddie, as it shows what it is like for two moms of many (plus SWEET dog) to try and get a 'mommy friend moment' with little feet around! Hehe!

 

Before we left the driveway for home - the girls had a blast running around the yard, getting in lots of hugs, chases, and love before buckling in the car. Rachel, Maddie, and Lovely were having such fun together, and Valiant and M.E. had become little twins stuck at the hip all day. Look at these shining faces and tight embraces:

Isn't God just SO GOOD??! WOW!

Sigh. I did NOT want to leave for home. But I felt so light on my feet and in my heart from a day that did more to refill the well of my soul, that has been thirsting for Advent, than the past few days of prayer and preparation. I genuinely smiled, felt SO happy watching all these girls, and felt the riches of the season. I was reminded today it isn't always the traditions that bring us closer to God, or the motions, when one is feeling like grace is the only thing making her smile and get through the day - it is being together, a community of saints (little saints!) and believers that shouts to us that God is WITH us. Thank you sweet girls, and Wickers, for reminding me of this.

My life and soul are feeling a lot like a feed box of late. Worn. Lonely. Cold. Scratchy. POOR. But, yesterday reminded me what can possibly come from something so lowly. God wants to turn my meager manger of a soul into a vessel for his Son! WHAT? He thinks these current crosses of mine are that glorious? How? I can't quite grasp it, but yesterday I FELT it. Like Mary, I said "yes" to what can be if I just trust. I hope I can remember to say "yes" each day. I know I will fall some days and just want to scream "no" so PLEASE pray for me to remember to hold on and just be open to becoming more.

It is definitely something that a cup of tea can renew and remind me of.

Eucharisto.


Thank you SO MUCH Kate. I love you and your family and friends. Thank you for sharing your (gorgeous!!) home for an incredible day!!  Blessings!!!

*Update: See Kate's post for more pictures and memories of the day!!

Feast of St. Nicholas!!!

Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children, Sailors, and the Innocent

He Came! He Came!

** For this special day, we celebrated early with our dear friends, The Wicker's, at their home. A post and pictures of our special St. Nicholas/Advent Tea can be found here.**

While, usually in our house St. Nick brings a chocolate image of himself (a foiled covered Santa Clause that I convert into a St. Nick) and a candy cane - this year with all the lack of prep time, St. Nick saw fit to give the girls two quarters each  - which fits his story well! The girls were grateful!

The above image came from a prayer card given all the girls at our Advent Tea yesterday at the home of our dear friends, The Wicker's . The back holds this sweet prayer:

Loving God,

    Thank you for St. Nicholas who shows us a good way to live.

    He fed the hungry,

    freed the imprisoned,

   cared for those in need,

   and told people about Jesus.

Make us brave, loving, and strong, so that, like St. Nicholas,

   we may love and serve you

   as we help those in need,

   through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

AMEN. Much love!!

2nd Week of Advent

 

We finally have our (new) advent wreath up and running. My childhood one is packed in storage, but this one was a lovely wreath found by Hubby (he scored some great points!) as it has delicate features, and the words Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love carved by each candle. As a replacement/'stand in' wreath - it is VERY special. I think it is the perfect focal point not only during this Advent season, but THIS season of my life - our lives.

We said a family blessing for the wreath, and sang two verses of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."

Now, if this doesn't remind you what is REALLY important, what makes a home, and one DOES have blessings from above - than what possibly can as a parent?

 

We wish you another blessed week of preparation!! God Bless!!!